The Upper Owens River is flowing slightly off color since the last storm and continues producing very big winter Rainbows that are calling the river their home for the winter and early spring season! Most of these fish when hooked provide the blessed angler with aerial displays and big water displacement! These fish are eating a few different things from spawning coloured attractor patterns to midges.  A very well placed streamer can also provoke an aggressive eat from these georgous and healthy trout.  We hope these guys stay around a while and  continue to show us what they are made of! 

The Lower Owens flow rate has been recently raised slightly to provide a great fishing flow of around 110cfs. Baetis and Midge action is on the rise with a full day of dry Fly fishing yesterday! #20-22 midges and #16-20 Baetis are being eaten regularly in most larger holes of the Lower Owens River.  Some caddis have been seen hovering above the river recently as well!  Hatch time seems to be most of the day in certain parts of the river and all day long in others.  At any rate the larger fish of the Owens are starting to poke their heads above the water to feast on mature adult aquatic insects!

Upper Owens continues to go off! Amazing fishing with 18-24″ fish roaming the entire system and devouring any good source of protein their instincts deem worthy.  Attractor patterns #12-18 with a spawning hued theme along with correctly fished streamers will seduce these perfectly finned fish.  But watch out! Without proper fish playing skills these fish will have you telling the story of another big one that got away.

The Upper Owens is still flowing low and semi-clear and has been absolutely beautiful recently.  Above normal temps and windless days have been gracing the fly anglers who visit this unique spring fed river.  Above all the fish the Upper Owens River are absolutely world class right now.  Perfect full finned fish above 20″ are throughout the system and willing to eat the correct patterns.  Fish for these trout as if fishing for Steelhead.  Attractor patterns in spawning colours and flashy greens and coppers are just a few suggestions.  Landing these special large fish is as good as it gets in the US.  Stay tuned for much more to come!!

The Lower Owens River continues to flow low and clear at a rate of 80-85 cfs.  Fishing has been Absolutely Great! All sorts of perfectly coloured and pointy finned wild trout of all sizes have been landing on the net of some very happy anglers.  The river is very accessible at these flows making wading very easy.  Dry Fly action seems to be constant on very small Midges and Baetis  in certain areas of the river! Fish are taking all sorts of Baetis and Midge Emerger #18-20, Caddis Emergers and worms #16-18.  On the surface fish Small Midge dries and Baetis patterns #20-22.  Fish can be caught on streamers as usual fish your favorite bugger or muddler here to see some fine specimens of Lower O trout.  Stay Tuned for more dry fly action to come!

The Lower Owens River has been fishing very well the last week. With the temperatures in Bishop in the mid 60’s this last week the fish really turned on the heat and the consumption of caddis, Baetis and Midges stepped up once again. Use the same patterns as suggested in my last report and look for the pods of Baetis eating Brown Trout mixed with a few Rainbows mid morning to afternoon. We look for more Dry Fly action as we move into the near year and the days start getting longer.

The Upper Owens has very little snow if  any after these much warmer days since the small storm a week and a half ago. Large fish continue to be caught throughout the system by anglers that can let a trout peel line and understand how to let them run at that crucial point! Fish are still acting like small steelhead and eating accordingly. The darkest areas of the river seem to the areas where these world class fish seem to be hiding. A delicately placed streamer or a strategically placed nymph can make an fly anglers day or entire trip in one amazing fish!

The Lower Owens has completely recovered from the cold weather front that passed through very quickly. Even though the guage is giving us some very strange readings the true flow of the river is right around 85-90 cfs. Fish have moved into the slower moving pools and slow lines. Anglers are having success on the patterns I have suggested in my last report. Once change is that we are using more midge larve and midge emerger patterns in sizes 18-20. Black and grey ribbed patterns seem to do the trick with RS2’s and baetis emergers right in there. Stay tuned for this fishery to turn on more as the Dry Fly hatches commence

The beautiful trout of the Lower Owens ns River have been gorging themselves on mayfly and caddis emergers along with dries as well. The river is almost a sure bet of a double digit day for most half experienced fly fisherman.  🙂 Although they are plentiful and hungry they are a wild population of fish and therefore highly selective. Baetis emergers and Caddis emerger patterns in sizes #16-20 are taking a lot of fish. RS2’s and Cased baetis patterns are a couple of examples of successful patterns to sink down in front of the trout. The rising trout action takes place all throughtout the river system with some sort of repeation pattern each day. It is a late morning to afternoon event that takes place in various parts of the river. All sorts of great dry fly patterns will take the rising trout on the surface. Throax BWO, Cut wing Baetis and Blue Quills are good patterns to start with. Stalcups adult caddis for a dry fly on 6x can be irrestable when you happen upon splasy rising caddis eating trout.

Up towards Mammoth Lakes, CA the fly fishing is heating up as the Upper Owens River is performing up to its reputation.. with a fair number of very large Rainbown and Brown Trout making their way up the river they have basically infiltrated the entire Upper Owens system. More Brown Trout of all sizes are noted in the river this year along with the usual huge Rainbowns that reside in the Upper O this time of year. Undercut banks and large holes and runs are found all up and down the river with most of them holding some unbelievable fish. Attractor patterns sunk down in front of these fish from a distance back is the best way to get a look at them out of the water. SJ worms of various sorts, Hot Head bead Patterns and oversized midge emergers are a few samples of flies to try. Fish these patterns in larger sizes in the Upper Owens this time of year. Streamers casted without spooking fish and pulled up the undercut banks and dark spots with provide some great thrills as the tug is the drug is this case! Stay tuned for a great year here!